Introduction of corralones, (semi-roofed shelters) and veterinary pharmacies in order to protect livestock (Llama camelids) and reduce mortality due to extreme events in the Bolivian Altiplano (High Andean Plateau).

Summary

In the highlands of Bolivia, recurrent cold waves and related extreme events severely increase the mortality rate of camelids, which represent a main source of livelihood for the local population.
This technology describes the introduction “Corralones” or semi-roofed shelters aimed at protecting livestock from extreme weather and climate events, in the Bolivian eco-region of the Altiplano (High Andean Plateau) as a means to enhance the resilience of livestock (Llama camelids) in the face of snow, frost and hailstorms, in addition to the introduction of veterinary pharmacies, in order to provide livestock with the necessary treatments to cope with prolonged frost and snow periods.
In farms affected by frost and snow, this good practice contributed to reduce livestock mortality, bringing 18% higher net benefits compared to the local practice, as well as increasing livestock production in the face of extreme events.

Description

Description of the application of the technology/practice

1.Corralones (semi-roofed shelters)

1.1 Location

The corralones are the most necessary during winter and summer, in consideration to this they should preferentially be located close to the areas where the llamas spend most time, which might be different according to the season. When possible, two corralones would be ideal.

1.2Orientation considerations

1.2.1 Sun

The entrance of the corralón should face the sunrise (east) in order to warm up and disinfect the shelter.

Photo 1. Orientation in relation to the sun

1.2.2 Wind direction

The back of the corralón should face the direction from where the strongest and most frequent winds blow.

Photo 2. Orientation in relation to the wind

1.2.3 Topography

When built on a slope, the corralón entrance should be oriented facing down the slope, and a water-diversion canal should be digged in the upper side, at the back of the corralón.

Photo 3.Orientation in relation to the topography

1.3 Dimensions and volumes

1.3.1 Size of the herd

The dimension of the corralón is directly correlated to the size of the herd, with a ratio of 1.5 m2 per adult llama. It is advisable to also consider the amount of pregnant female and baby llamas.

1.3.2 Size of the shelter

A shelter of 9x5 m. is enough to fit 30 adult llamas, covering a surface of 45m2.

Photo 4. Corralón dimensions

Photo 5. Construction design

1.3.3 Roof design

The roof of the shelter could be of one or two gabled roofs. When designing the roof, considerations on the maximum high of llamas (1.70 cm) should be taken, being recommended to have a maximum high of 3 m.

Photo 6. Ceiling design

1.3.4 Size of the patio

As a general rule, the area of the patio is the same as the area of the shelter, but may vary according to the availability of space.

1.3.5 Shape of the patio

The shape can be circular, rectangular or squared. Although it is recommended for the patio to have a rounded shape, in order to facilitate cleaning as well as to facilitate the movement of the llamas and a safe management.

Photo 7. Patio design

1.4 Materials

1.4.1 Floor

It is recommended to have soil as a floor.

1.4.2 Walls

It is recommended to use local materials, such as rocks, adobe, etc.

1.4.3 Roof

The roof may vary in thickness, and may be composed by one material or by the combination of different materials, such as straws, roof tiles, bamboos, mud, plastic membranes, weaved wires, etc.

The cost (in Boliviano) for the construction of the roof are:

1.5 Complementary Infrastructure

1.5.1 Water-diversion canal

In laden terrains a construction of a water-diversion canal in the upper side of the corralón is needed to deviate rain water.

1.5.2 Draining canal

To drain out the urine and any rain water that filters into the corralón, in order to maintain it dry.

Photo 8. Water-diversion and draining canal

1.5.3 Dung deposit

In order to maintain clean the corralón, while facilitating the production of manure.

Photo 9. Dung deposit

1.6 Maintenance

In-depth cleaning of the corralones should be done twice a year.

The roof should be checked every year prior to the commencement of the rain season.

Shelter and canals should be cleared regularly.

2.Veterinary Pharmacies

In addition to shelters, veterinary pharmacies located at the municipalities were introduced in order provide livestock with the necessary treatments to cope with prolonged frost and snow periods.

Farmers in this way were provided with easy access to veterinary pharmacies, supplied (dewormers and multivitamins) by the municipalities before and after (possible) extreme weather events and low temperature seasons, in order to guarantee the access to the dewormers and multivitamins, being those the most requested medications.

2.1 Deworming and Multivitamins

During crisis periods, camelids usually experience a high level of stress, both nutritional and physiological, compromising the balance of their vital functions, their pastoral ethological behavior, their immunological levels and reproductive functions among others.

This situation is worsened by the parasitic state of the animals. Depending on the level of parasitic infestation, cleaning and disinfection of the parasitic population can be applied in order to secure that it is the animal that benefits from a subsequent vitamin, mineral, energetic and protein doage and not the parasites.

It is advisable to consider a complete deworming of endo and ecto parasites. This can be done in two ways: (1) through oral dosage of a product based on levamisole agents or similar and (2) through a subcutaneous parenteral injection (i.e. under the skin elsewhere in the body than the mouth and alimentary canal of the animal) of a product based on the enzyme principles of ivermectin. The latter can be accompanied by a fat-soluble vitamin complex containing vitamins A, B, C, D and K.

These sanitary activities are carried out following a sanitary schedule.

Ivermectin is an internal and external antiparasitic vitaminized with vitamins A, D and E whose composition is the following:

Minerals are used in bovine and porcine cattle for the prevention and treatment of mineral nutritional deficiencies, as a restorative of the general condition and as a nutritional factor in weaning, lactation, growth and fattening.

Functions of essential minerals are:

Sodium: Regulation of the acidity and alkalinity of body fluids. Digestion.

Phosphorus: Once inoculated subcutaneously, is absorbed through the blood to be distributed in the body. It participates in the chemical reactions characteristic of muscle contraction. It is eliminated by digestive route / milk.

Calcium: In ruminants calcium is absorbed according to the needs of the organism after parenteral administration. Young animals have higher requirements to grow, the amount of calcium retention has direct relation to the administered amount, adults retain only enough calcium to cover restoration needs and the rest is eliminated by excretion in urine and intestine. Calcium retention increases in periods of high demand such as gestation and lactation.

Copper: Copper enters as a carrier in the blood, appearing in both erythrocytes and serum. The liver removes most of the copper from the blood, although other soft tissues also store some copper. The liver excretes copper with bile, although reabsorption occurs in the intestine. Copper can cross the placenta and be stored in the fetal liver.

Cobalt: It is stored only in limited quantities and not in all tissues. In adult ruminants its only function is in the rumen and therefore must be there permanently. Cobalt reaches the digestive system through the bile and then produces cabalamin.

Zinc: Deficiency causes growth deficiency, anorexia, rough and brittle hair with loss of hair and accumulation of dry, hard and brittle skin mainly in the hindquarters.

Iron: Once inoculated subcutaneously it is absorbed by the bloodstream and intervenes in hematopoiesis as a component of hemoglobin and a small part of myoglobin and in certain enzymes involved in the use of oxygen.

The farmers found that their livelihood practices are now safer in the face of extreme events. The practice contributed to avoid livestock losses and increased livestock production.

The veterinary pharmacies have allowed farmers to apply vitamins in during frost, helping the animals to cope with the extreme weather periods.

Increased access to treatment through the veterinary pharmacies helped reduce the mortality rate. However, it is not possible to disentangle the benefits of veterinary pharmacies from the benefits of corralones.

In addition, the functioning of the veterinary pharmacies, allowed the increase of vaccination and deworming campaigns provided by the “Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria e Inocuidad Alimentaria” (SENASAG).

3.1 Economic

Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA) were conducted based on quantitative data collected during the 2016 winter period. The net benefits obtained from raising camelids with corralones and veterinary pharmacies were compared to the net benefits of raising camelids without corralones and veterinary pharmacies. The costs and benefits were calculated based on the average herd size in the monitored farms (i.e. 85 llamas).|

The CBA calculates the cumulative net benefits obtained by an average farm over a period of 11 years (10 percent discount rate is applied to express the future value of costs and benefits in present terms), as well as the benefit-cost ratio (BCR), which is the ratio between total discounted benefits and total discounted costs over the appraisal period.

Figure 1 provides an overview of the outcome of the CBA. In particular, it shows that:

The good practice brings 17 percent higher net benefits as compared to the usual practice.

The BCR of the good practice (2.98) is higher than the BCR of the local practice (2.4), meaning that the good practice brings greater benefits relative to costs, as compared to the usual practice.

The assessment was conducted in farms that were affected by frost during the monitoring period. Benefits considered include the value of sold camelid meat and wool, and the live weight value of camelids sold.The introduction of shelters to protect camelids from frost, combined with the increased access to treatments following the establishment of veterinary pharmacies, significantly reduced the mortality rate of camelids. On the other hand, the increase in benefits was partially outweighed by the capital costs of building shelters, as well as the costs of travelling to the veterinary pharmacies located in the municipalities.

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Figure 1.Cumulative Net Benefits and Benefit Cost Ratio of DRR Good Practice and Existing Local Practice

3.2. Environmental

Further analysis is required in order to assess potential environmental co-benefits of this good practice.

4. Difficulties and/or limitations

(a) Farmers cannot afford to build new corralones unless they receive additional support from the municipality.

(b) High costs of travelling to the municipality, in order to attend the veterinary pharmacies, located in the municipalities.

Validation

1. Geographical area of practice validation

Bolivian eco-region of the Altiplano (High Andean Plateau).

2. Context of implementation

In the highlands of Bolivia, recurrent cold waves and related extreme events severely increase the mortality rate of camelids, which represent a main source of livelihood for the local population.

2.1. Climatic (period/season) – Hazard Context

The Bolivian eco-region of the Altiplano has significant daily variations in temperature, ranging from 15°C to 20 °C degrees and up to 27°C in summer days, where at night temperature drops to around 0°C. Extreme weather and climate events in the Altiplano, include frost and snow during the dry season (April to November) and heavy rains and hailstorms during wet season (December to March).

Llamas, in particular female and baby llamas, should rest inside the corralon during the night, to avoid energy loss while sleeping and to reduce the incidence of pneumonia.

The engagement of the municipalities is vital for the correct functioning of the veterinary pharmacies, as they are responsible for the supplies.

It is important to have a permanent technical support and ongoing training for technicians and farmers to prevent side effects in animals by extreme climate events.

Campaigns should be accompanied by basic training on the use of the materials and veterinary inputs as well as on the correct application of anti-parasites, so the practice can be replicated year after year by camelid breeders.

Constrains (limiting factors) for the implementation of the technology

Due to the investment cost to build new corralones, additional support from the municipality is needed for the further implementation of the practice.

The relatively high costs of travelling to the municipality. Farmers advised that veterinary pharmacies should be established within each community.